we are making changes on our wire, effective April 15, to make it easier for you to access our stories. The changes relate to:

1. The practice of sending stories in takes (1st take, 2nd take, 3rd take etc).

2. The slugs of our stories.

TAKES:

Under the new system, we will do away with takes, which are chronological additions to a story. Instead, we will progressively build the story starting with the usual short version of 150 to 200 words. The second story, the slug of which will be prefixed by LD (short for Lead), will be 400 to 500 words and will contain all the material of the first story; the third story (the 2nd LD) will be 500 to 600 words and so on. This will ensure you get a full story every time, and not truncated parts. There will now be no need to search for different takes and stitch them together for publication. Every subsequent Lead will be a complete and fully publishable story. It will carry an "Editor's note" with a brief description of the new material and/or changes in the latest version.

SLUGS:

All PTI story slugs will be prefixed with two or three letters that will denote the state where they are originating from, or the ministries they relate to.

For example:

1. A Tamil Nadu story about water shortage will be TN-Water Shortage

2. A Chhattisgarh story about a Naxal attack will be CG-Naxal Attack

3. A West Bengal story relating to Mamata Banerjee will be WB-Mamata

New Delhi-datelined stories about the central government will carry a three-letter slug that indicates the ministries or departments they are associated with.

For example:

1. The external affairs ministry commenting on pakistan will be slugged MEA-India-Pakistan

2. The Prime Minister's Office announcing Ajit Doval's trip will be PMO-Doval

All economic and business stories will carry the preface BIZ. All sports stories will be SPO

Cabinet-related stories will be CAB

Politics-related stories will be POL

A full list of various slug prefaces is attached below: Slugs for the Supreme Court, high court and subordinate court stories will remain the same -- SC, HC and COURT. However, this would be prefixed with the state or the Union territory. Some examples of court story slugs: SC-Triple Talaq, DL-HC-Kindergarten Schools, MH-HC-Doctors Strike. The master slug for states/Union territories will be: 1. Madhya Pradesh MP

2. Chhattisgarh CG

3. Jammu and Kashmir JK

4. Assam AS

5. Maharashtra MH

6. Andhra Pradesh AP

7. Arunachal Pradesh AR

8. Bihar BH

9. Jharkhand JH

10. Gujarat GJ

11. Goa GA

12. Haryana HR

13. Himachal Pradesh HP

14. Karnataka KA

15. Kerala KL

16. Manipur MN

17. Meghalaya MG

18. Mizoram MZ

19. Nagaland NL

20. Odisha OD

21. Punjab PB

22. Rajasthan RJ

23. Sikkim SK

24. Tamil Nadu TN

25. Telangana TS

26. Tripura TR

27. Uttarakhand UK

28. Uttar Pradesh UP

29. West Bengal WB

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands AN 2. Chandigarh CH 3. Delhi DL 4. Dadra and Nagar Haveli DN 5. Daman and Diu DD 6. Lakshadweep LW 7. Puducherry PD Slugs for various offices or ministries will be: The President's Secretariat PREZ The Vice President's Office VP

The Prime Minister's Office PMO

The Ministry of External Affairs MEA Defence-related stories or the Ministry of Defence DEF The Ministry of Home Affairs MHA

Aviation-related stories or the Ministry of Civil Aviation AVI The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting MIB The Ministry of Water Resources WAT The Ministry of Women and Child Development WCD The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare MOH The Department of Personnel and Training DOPT The Ministry of Urban Development UHD The Ministry of Railways RAIL

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports YAS The Ministry of Tourism TOUR

The Ministry of Culture CUL

The Ministry of Human Resources HRD The Ministry of Science and Technology SCI Income Tax Department ITX

The Election Commission of India EC The Central Bureau of Investigations CBI The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI The National Investigation Agency NIA For any clarification please call Sujit Chatterjee on

we are making changes on our wire, effective April 15, to make it easier for you to access our stories. The changes relate to:

1. The practice of sending stories in takes (1st take, 2nd take, 3rd take etc).

2. The slugs of our stories.

TAKES:

Under the new system, we will do away with takes, which are chronological additions to a story. Instead, we will progressively build the story starting with the usual short version of 150 to 200 words. The second story, the slug of which will be prefixed by LD (short for Lead), will be 400 to 500 words and will contain all the material of the first story; the third story (the 2nd LD) will be 500 to 600 words and so on. This will ensure you get a full story every time, and not truncated parts. There will now be no need to search for different takes and stitch them together for publication. Every subsequent Lead will be a complete and fully publishable story. It will carry an "Editor's note" with a brief description of the new material and/or changes in the latest version.

SLUGS:

All PTI story slugs will be prefixed with two or three letters that will denote the state where they are originating from, or the ministries they relate to.

For example:

1. A Tamil Nadu story about water shortage will be TN-Water Shortage

2. A Chhattisgarh story about a Naxal attack will be CG-Naxal Attack

3. A West Bengal story relating to Mamata Banerjee will be WB-Mamata

New Delhi-datelined stories about the central government will carry a three-letter slug that indicates the ministries or departments they are associated with.

For example:

1. The external affairs ministry commenting on pakistan will be slugged MEA-India-Pakistan

2. The Prime Minister's Office announcing Ajit Doval's trip will be PMO-Doval

All economic and business stories will carry the preface BIZ. All sports stories will be SPO

Cabinet-related stories will be CAB

Politics-related stories will be POL

A full list of various slug prefaces is attached below: Slugs for the Supreme Court, high court and subordinate court stories will remain the same -- SC, HC and COURT. However, this would be prefixed with the state or the Union territory. Some examples of court story slugs: SC-Triple Talaq, DL-HC-Kindergarten Schools, MH-HC-Doctors Strike. The master slug for states/Union territories will be: 1. Madhya Pradesh MP

2. Chhattisgarh CG

3. Jammu and Kashmir JK

4. Assam AS

5. Maharashtra MH

6. Andhra Pradesh AP

7. Arunachal Pradesh AR

8. Bihar BH

9. Jharkhand JH

10. Gujarat GJ

11. Goa GA

12. Haryana HR

13. Himachal Pradesh HP

14. Karnataka KA

15. Kerala KL

16. Manipur MN

17. Meghalaya MG

18. Mizoram MZ

19. Nagaland NL

20. Odisha OD

21. Punjab PB

22. Rajasthan RJ

23. Sikkim SK

24. Tamil Nadu TN

25. Telangana TS

26. Tripura TR

27. Uttarakhand UK

More here:
Attention subscribers - Outlook India - Outlook India

Feb 25, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana (62) stretches during a workout at Camelback Ranch Practice Fields. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves 2017 Player Previews: Jaime Garcia by Andrew Scherer

Atlanta Braves Set Opening Day Roster For 2017And Its Kind Of Shocking by Jeff Schafer

In two completely and independently separate deals, the Atlanta Braves traded for White Sox big arm Jose Quintana and signed free agent Angel Pagan.

The numbers on the Pagan signing are not in yet, but initial details leaked early this morning point to an unprecedented free agent contract!

Pagan looks to be the highest paid bench warmer in history, with a front-loaded deal in the $50 million range is signed through 2025. Thats an AAV of $5.5 million. Incentives for most splinters from bench received, maintaining the blonde hair for more than 3 months, and number of days not being used off the bench, range in the $1 million area.

Rumor has it the artist formerly known as B.J. Upton quipped, Ha! Thats easy money for him. I did less than that, and still made bank!

Former Braves second baseman, Dan Uggla, also commented on the signing warning Pagan. Meh, Uggla said. Hell still be left of the postseason roster in favor of Elliot Johnson.

In a move only heard about by me, the Braves traded TWO L-Screens, a bucket of commemorative Sun Trust Park marked baseballs, leftover game used dirt from Turner Field, and a copy of GM John Coppolellas new book entitled Arizona Falling: Every GM Can Be A Dave Stewart.

All of this went to the White Sox for touted pitcher, Jose Quintana. On the surface, this looks like a steal. However, the departure of both L-Screens leaves the Braves in a bind. They now have to pull from the indoor batting cages for the use of the screens.

Rookie Dansby Swanson was overheard mumbling in frustration, as he was informed, that because he is a rookie, now has to physically move the L-Screens back and forth.

But honestly, who can complain about this? Its Jose Quintana! Suck it up Dansby, sheesh, this is for the greater good.

If by now, you havent figured it out, Its April 1st, 2017, April Fools Day. Enjoy the rest of it, and remember, NONE OF THIS IS TRUE. Tis but a ruse. Shenanigans. Utter non-sense.

Happy April Fools Day Everyone! Hope it was a good one!

View post:
Atlanta Braves "Quietly" Make Big Time Additions on this 1st Day of April - Tomahawk Take

ST. LOUIS (AP) Randal Grichuk smiled as he backed away from a mob of St. Louis Cardinals chasing him around the field. Then he stopped and jumped into the air for a celebratory collision with Dexter Fowler.

It was wet and wild, and far from a masterpiece. But opening day was a ton of fun for Grichuk & Co.

Grichuk hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and a game-ending RBI single in the ninth, helping the Cardinals top the Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Sunday.

Its just a night I wont forget, Grichuk said.

Jose Martinez sparked the winning rally with a pinch-hit double against Mike Montgomery, who closed out the World Series in November for Chicagos first title since 1908. Yadier Molina then was awarded the first no-pitch intentional walk in major league history, part of baseballs offseason rule changes designed to speed up the game.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Grichuk lined a 1-1 pitch into the gap in left-center for his second career game-ending hit . He was mobbed as he rounded first in the rain, and what was left of a sellout crowd of 47,566 cheered wildly.

Every win is meaningful, but definitely not making the playoffs last year and seeing them win it put a little sour taste in our mouth, Grichuk said. So, its good to get any (win), but definitely opening day against them is a little sweeter.

The Cardinals appeared set for a tidy 3-0 win before the Cubs rallied in the ninth. Ben Zobrist was hit by a pitch from Seung-hwan Oh and Jason Heyward singled before Willson Contreras hit a drive to left for a tying homer.

A great at-bat, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. The ball really did jump right there.

Before the dramatic finish, the night belonged to Carlos Martinez, who retired 12 in a row and 18 of 19 over one stretch against the defending champions. The ace right-hander struck out 10 and walked none in 7 1/3 innings in his first start on opening day.

Jon Lester kept Chicago in the game with five effective innings despite not having his best stuff. Kyle Schwarber reached three times in his first game as the leadoff hitter since Fowler left the Cubs over the winter for an $82.5 million, five-year contract with the Cardinals.

Sometimes youve got to tip your hat to the other team, too, Lester said. They fouled a lot of pitches off.

St. Louis went 86-76 last year and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010, but the additions of Fowler and reliever Brett Cecil ramped up the optimism for this season. The Cardinals got another positive jolt when they announced a new contract for Molina earlier in the day that runs through the 2020 season.

Im just glad that we got it done because this is the right place to be, he said.

The crowd at Busch Stadium roared its approval when Molina was introduced before the game, prompting the catcher to doff his cap twice as the cheers continued.

He got another standing ovation when he came to the plate for the first time in the second inning, and there were chants of Ya-di! Ya-di! before he grounded a single back up the middle.

Fowler also heard all cheers all night long, and he used his legs to get St. Louis on the board in the third. He reached on an infield single, scampered over to third on Aledmys Diazs single to center and scored on Matt Carpenters fly ball to right.

MORE ON MOLINA

Molina made his 13th consecutive start on opening day, third most in franchise history behind Stan Musial (18) and Lou Brock (15), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

TRAINERS ROOM

Cubs: LHP Brian Duensing was placed on the 10-day disabled list with lower back spasms. The move was made retroactive to Thursday.

UP NEXT

Following a day off, right-handers Jake Arrieta of the Cubs and Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals get the ball on Tuesday night. Arrieta went 18-8 with a 3.10 ERA in 31 starts last year. Wainwright is looking to bounce back after going 13-9 with a 4.62 ERA last season.

More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap

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Grichuk, Cardinals top Cubs 4-3 in wild opener (Apr 3, 2017) - FOXSports.com

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Bob Melvin emphatically made his point. Twice.

What decisions did the Oakland Athletics still have ahead before opening day?

Stay healthy.

How about any tough roster choices?

Stay healthy.

Year after year, thats always a tough task for his injury-prone As. The Los Angeles Angels understand, as theyre already down key reliever Huston Street.

With Oakland ace right-hander Sonny Gray nursing a lat injury, he will miss his second straight scheduled start on opening day. Kendall Graveman, a 10-game winner a year ago, takes the ball for the As opposing right-hander Ricky Nolasco in Monday nights opener against Los Angeles at the snazzed-up Coliseum.

Gray had food poisoning last year and was scratched.

Street is sidelined with a strained back he sustained two batters into his first spring outing last month.

Neither Melvin nor Angels manager Mike Scioscia has named a set closer something each knows might develop early in the season.

We have some good arms we think are going to help us in high-leverage situations, Scioscia said. We need that depth and hopefully continuing to have that depth grow. You manage your bullpen to the talent level. If it means one guy evolves into that closer, now youre just worried about the seventh and eighth inning. There are a number of ways we can work things. If roles develop, great. If they dont, were going to have an effective bullpen with matching up.

The As are facing the AL West in six of their initial seven series covering the month of April, so Melvin is hopeful his club starts fast.

Oh, and stays healthy, of course.

Were in it right away with the division. We play everybody it seems like. I dont know what the number is, Melvin said. Youd like to get off to a good start in your division and the Angels present many challenges. They have some very high-profile guys, they like to move around a little bit, hit and run, and create some action, so we have to be ready for that kind of thing. They always have the potential to be a very good team, especially with guys like Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Theyve added to their roster, added a little more speed and athleticism. So its going to be a very good team we have to deal with.

Its the first time since 2009 the As and Angels meet opening day.

Beforehand, Oakland will dedicate Rickey Henderson Field, named for the Hall of Famer who will be in attendance.

With Coliseum upgrades and the Rooted In Oakland theme as the NFL Raiders and NBA Golden State Warriors each plan to depart the East Bay in coming years, the As are ready to be this citys team that stays.

Photos of old greats and current players line the ballpark walls where players go to work each day, with food truck options for fans available outside.

It kind of makes it a different feel in our clubhouse, which is nice, Melvin said. Kind of spruced up a little bit. It does feel like the theme of whats been talked about leading up to the season is also kind of filtering into our clubhouse.

From old and also new faces like center fielder Rajai Davis, reliever Santiago Casilla and infielder Adam Rosales beginning second stints with the club and several other offseason additions such as Matt Joyce and Trevor Plouffe, Melvin likes his roster.

Even if the As have finished in last place among the AL West the past two years. They lost their final six spring games, too.

You see it every year, sometimes the team that finishes at the top of the standings is the worst in baseball and vice versa, catcher Stephen Vogt said. Were playing well. I think were having good at-bats up and down the lineup. Our pitching has been good and our defense has been really, really good.

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Athletics host rival Angels to start season Monday night (Apr 2, 2017) - FOXSports.com

The term employee-friendly building is something that Bruce Kramer, the vice chairman of Consumer Direct Care Network, likes to use to describe the companys shiny new 72,000-square-foot headquarters in Missoula.

With no administrative offices in the corners of the four-story building so that more people can enjoy natural light, a huge second-story rooftop deck, and a special Liquid Planet coffee/snack lounge, the $23 million project was designed with the input of the companys 235 workers who will begin calling it home in April.

Weve made a lot of investment in employee-centered spaces, Kramer explained on a recent tour of the new facility, which has been under construction for 19 months.

Weve had a program of communication since we started on this, he continued. We started involving employees two years ago and the excitement has been building.

Right now, Consumer Directs Missoula employees are spread over five different locations across town.

Thats the genesis of, Why should we have a new building? Well, so we can get together and work more efficiently and work with our other teams and then also have facilities that we werent able to have when we were all spread out, Kramer said.

Consumer Direct Care Network was founded in Missoula in 1990 to provide in-home nursing care. Since then, its range of services has expanded in both scope and size to include a broad spectrum of services in 13 states and the District of Columbia.

We are an in-home care service provider primarily, but we also do behavioral counseling and hospice and other services, Kramer said. Primarily, our business is caregivers going into homes and helping support people with ADL, active daily living. The idea is to keep people in their homes versus going to an assisted living nursing home. Their home is the least costly environment and also the environment that people tend to want to live in, anyway.

The ground floor of the new headquarters will include a reception area and spaces for behavioral specialists, nurses, hospice workers and caregivers. The second through fourth floors will house employees who support the Montana offices and other offices across the country. They specialize in quality improvement, billing, administrative, development, marketing and accounts receivable.

The company provides services to 16,000 individuals across the United States, and employs more than 25,000 direct support professionals. The Missoula offices support more than 300 employees total, although not all of them have actual desks in the office.

The new building is located at 100 Consumer Direct Way, and is one of the first anchor businesses in the North Reserve/Scott Street Urban Renewal District.

Kramer says the companys bankers used to joke with him that the graph of the number of the companys employees on payroll is always a straight diagonal line going up meaning the employee numbers steadily grow every year.

Weve been a growing business and continue to be a growing business, he said. So weve built a little larger than we are obviously so we have some room to expand.

In fact, the companys state director Katie Spaid pointed out that the new reception area has three dedicated spaces for potential hires to fill out job applications.

Were always looking for good people to hire, she said. Nurses, she added, are in high demand, along with a variety of other positions for qualified applicants.

Marie Wilson of In2itive Architecture in Missoula designed the building. She said it is one of the largest projects shes ever been involved with, besides some new additions on the Montana State University campus.

The clients definitely wanted to create some interesting and flexible workspaces within the building, she said. We achieved that (with) both inside and outside seating areas. We have one of the largest outdoor rooftop decks, right now, in the state.

Wilson said employees actually had a say in how the building looks and feels.

The outside went through two completely different concepts, she said. One that was very modern and one that was very traditional, that would have fit in in Vail or Boulder or somewhere like that pretty comfortably. And these guys, Consumer Direct, polled a large portion of their staff not just for the spaces they were going to be using but also for where did they want to come to work every day? I dont know if it was the majority but definitely they landed on the modern side. So thats the direction we took and had a little bit of fun with it.

Kramer is especially proud of the fact that, unlike in many corporate office buildings, the administrators didnt get all the choice corner space.

We have no offices in the corner, he said. We intentionally did that with the design to try to have an employee-friendly building with lots of light coming in to the center core.

The building features a raised floor system that allows for low-pressure air circulation and easy access to electrical and plumbing structures.

There will be a grand opening this spring, Kramer added. The company has been giving tours to employees, and the first few will move in the first week of April.

People are excited, he said.

Go here to read the rest:
Consumer Direct Care Network to move 235 workers into massive new headquarters - The Missoulian

The Cincinnati Reds finished at the bottom of the National League Central Division last season with a record of 68-94, four games better than 2015.

They were 32-57 in the first half but fashioned a respectable 36-37 record after the All-Star break.

Ask Hal: Price still needs to keep winning to keep managing

Its time to go out there and figure out what we can do, manager Bryan Price said. We have a nice group of regulars. We cant just settle for 72 wins, we have to set much higher goals. To do that we need a lot of step-up from a group of young guys.

Here are five story lines to follow as the season begins Monday at Great American Ball Park against the Phillies:

Young pitchers

Two rookies begin the season in the starting rotation. Rookie Davis and Amir Garrett will join Brandon Finnegan, who at 23 is two weeks older than Davis and younger than Garrett. Veterans Scott Feldman, 34, and the ancient yet youthful Bronson Arroyo, 40, are the veteran presences.

RELATED: Rookie Reds lead the pitching staff

Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani are recovering from injuries. Bailey had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow in early February. He wont be ready until at least June. DeSclafani was shut down for three weeks and will need at least six weeks to build stamina.

Five other young arms Sal Romano, Cody Reed, Robert Stephenson, Tim Adleman and Louis Castillo are knocking on the door and fans can be confident they will be in the rotation in the near future.

Reed and Stephenson will learn on the job in the bullpen for now, available for emergency starts.

A better bullpen

A year ago, J.J. Hoover was given the closers role to lose when Aroldis Chapman was traded to the New York Yankees. And he lost it.

RELATED: 5 things to know about Opening Day

This year, Drew Storen, a closer with Washington, signed as a free agent and joins Tony Cingrani, Raisel Iglasias and Michael Lorenzen at the back end of the bullpen.

I would like to see all four of them get some save opportunities, Price said. Storen, Iglesias and Cingrani have done it before. Lorenzen not so much but hes built for it.

Rookies Barrett Astin, acquired in the trade for Jonathan Broxton in 2014, and Wandy Peralta, a left-hander, are other bullpen arms, with Reed and Stephenson also available.

Three shortstops

The Reds start the season with an athletic, more youthful infield. They traded Brandon Phillips, who at 34 was blocking the progress of Jose Peraza. Peraza, who was a shortstop in the Atlanta system but has moved to second base, started 29 games at shortstop with the Reds. He can also play the outfield.

RELATED: Betting on Reds to win World Series could pay off big time

Eugenio Suarez was a shortstop coming up in the Detroit Tigers system. He replaced Zack Cozart in 2015 when Cozart suffered a season-ending knee injury. Suarez became an everyday player by moving to third when Todd Frazier was traded.

Cozart, still the regular shortstop, returns healthy and stronger two years removed from knee surgery.

This group has the ability to save the young pitching staff by cutting off ground balls ticketed for the outfield. They should be able to prevent runs, turn hits into outs and allow pitchers to go deeper in games.

Mesoracos health

Catcher Devin Mesoraco had a breakout year with the bat in 2014 but injuries limited the 28-year old to 39 games the last two seasons.

Mesoraco appears fully recovered but the Reds want him to work back to 100 percent before he is activated. Tucker Barnhart will be the top catcher until Mesoraco is ready to share the workload.

Stuart Turner is making the jump from Class AA. He had a good spring at the plate and was able to learn the pitching staff but the Reds have to keep him on the 25-man roster all season or offer him back to Minnesota after acquiring him in the Rule 5 draft.

Rob Brantly was farmed out but had a good camp.

A potent lineup

Scott Schebler, in right field, and Peraza are new additions to the everyday lineup.

I am excited about having Schebler and Peraza for a full season, Price said.

Schebler replaces Jay Bruce, who was traded to the New York Mets. The 26-year old struggled early last season trying to platoon with Adam Duvall in left. The Reds sent him to Louisville to play every day and he responded by hitting .311 with 13 home runs. After Bruce was traded, Schebler came back to Cincinnati and hit much better, belting nine home runs.

Peraza hit .281 in 71 games at Louisville and .324 in 72 games in Cincinnati. Even limited to half a season, Peraza ranked high among rookies in seven offensive categories. Price will put him behind Billy Hamilton at the top of the lineup to give the team two speedsters in front of Joey Votto.

Votto just needs to be himself. He struggled until the All-Star break then hit nearly .400 the second half. Staying healthy is the only question mark for the 33-year old who finished seventh in the MVP voting.

Duvall took control in left with surprisingly good defense for a player who was a third baseman in the minors. He finished strong this spring, hitting three home runs in the last two games. Last season he led all left fielders with 33 home runs, six triples and 103 RBIs. With Hamilton, Peraza and Votto hitting in front of him, he should be able to drive in a lot of runs.

Saurez started 2016 as one of the hottest hitters in the National League. He went into a slump but recovered late in the season and finished strong. Cozarts .252 batting average was consistent with his other years but he contributed a career-high 16 home runs in 121 games.

Cozart believes this Reds team is better than many think.

We have that underdog mentality, Cozart said. Were going to surprise some people this year.

A key, of course, will be Hamilton, wholl lead off. He started to get on base more last season and the Reds hope it continues.

It is important that Billy sees himself as a leadoff guy, Price said. Thats what we started to see at the end of last year. His two-strike approach and his management of the strike zone was vastly improved.

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Cincinnati Reds: 5 story lines to watch in 2017 - MyDaytonDailyNews

PHOENIX Much was made of the Cardinals struggles in special teams last season, as they had troubles in virtually every aspect.

In 2016, the Cardinals were 31stin field goal percentage and 23rd on PATs, while ranking last in the league inpunting.

Arizona was also 16th in kick return yardage and 29th when it came to returning punts. For good measure, the Cardinals ranked in the bottom half of the league when it came to defending both kick and punt returns.

The team made an effort to fix the kicking game, signing punter Matt Wile late in the year and then adding veteran kicker Phil Dawson in free agency, but in terms of the return game, little has changed.

However, Arians is not so sure the teams primary returners are currently on the roster.

I think that is one of the wide-open things in the draft, he said at the NFC Coaches Breakfast at the Arizona Biltmore Wednesday.

Arians said he was disappointed in Andre Ellington, who returned kicks last year but had been battling injuries. The now-healthy Ellington will have to prove he can handle punts from left-footed kickers, which he struggled to do in practice. Arians said that led to a loss of confidence.

He should have a chance as a kickoff returner/punt returner, but hes got to do a hell of a lot better than he did last year, Arians said. He knows it.

J.J. (Nelson), thats why we drafted him; he broke the thumb early in camp last year and lost his confidence catching them and didnt want to be back there. John Brown was doing a heck of a job until he got hurt, so weve got some guys.

The coach noted hes looking to add a player in the draft who could compete for the returner role, which makes sense. What did not make sense, at least to some people, was Arians decision to leave Amos Jones in place as the special teams coordinator.

Ive been around him for so long, I know how good a coach he is, I watch him coach, Arians said, before noting that injuries and down seasons from the kickers were the real issue. It aint got a damn thing to do with coaching he didnt kick, he didnt snap.

Arians belief is that the teams issues there were not related to the coach.

If I thought it was something to do with the coach, wed address it, he said.

To Arians, improvement on special teams will come not only from the teams additions, but key contributors getting healthy.

Getting Alani Fua back, and Mo (Ifeanyi Momah) back, Gabe (Martin) back theyre all in competition, he said. But our four or five cover guys were all on IR.

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Arians: Additions, better health will lead to improved special teams play - Arizona Sports

Schell Brothers, By Pam George Published 1:24 p.m. ET March 31, 2017 | Updated 1:26 p.m. ET March 31, 2017

Coastal Club(Photo: Schell Brothers)

With a name like Coastal Club, a gated community of new residences in Lewes, sets a high bar from the start. But as buyers are finding out, Coastal Club not only meets all these expectations but it also exceeds them. The fastest-selling community at the beach, Coastal Club has been making waves for its amenities and, thanks to Schell Brothers, its floor plans. Witness the difference firsthand on April 8, when Schell Brothers debuts a new model home, The Mayberry.

A resort at a resort

Coastal Club(Photo: Schell Brothers)

Coastal Club symbolizes Schell Brothers quest to bring happiness to homebuyers. Whether you like to walk, bike, swim or socialize, this community has what it takes to make you smile.

Coastal Club is loaded with recreational opportunities, starting with the resort-style pool that opened last year. The spacious pool deck

includes a leisure pool with an infinity edge that lets water spill into an adjoining lake. Close your eyes and listen to the soothing sound of falling water.

You can cool off in more ways than one. The pool also features a swim-up bar with wet and dry seats. Children, meanwhile, can play in their own areas designed just for them. Theres a two-story high-speed water slide, a pirate ship, a splash zone, fountains and water bucket drops.

Coastal Club(Photo: Schell Brothers)

On land, take your dog for a walk on the 3.1-mile wooded Eagle View Trail. Meet neighbors for a game of tennis, bocce, horseshoes or pickleball. The Lighthouse Club, a gorgeous clubhouse that will open

this summer, will include a bar, coffee lounge and fitness center. In 2018, the clubhouse will also feature an indoor pool.

The activities, the clubhouse and the pool give residents plenty of opportunities to meet eachother. Homeowners are also forming social clubs to pursue shared interests.

Diverse designs all in one place

Schell Brothers has received awards for its floor plans, exterior design and eco-friendly building approaches. The newest model, The Mayberry, is proof of why Schell Brothers is worthy of so many recognitions. The new model is one of Schell Brothers most popular designs. Customers appreciate the ranch plans one-floor living, long front porch and flexibility. This design accommo

dates from three to six bedrooms and two to five-and-a-half bathrooms.

No matter the size, The Mayberry has an open floor plan that seamlessly integrates the great room, kitchen and dining area. Tour the home during the grand opening, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 8.

Coastal Club(Photo: Schell Brothers)

In addition to The Mayberry, Schell Brothers portfolio includes a wide range of floor plans to suit a variety of lifestyles. Grandparents with frequent visitors might consider a two-story with a first-floor owners suite and second-floor bedrooms. Homesites that can handle basements are available for those who want finished lower levels. The equally large list of options lets you personalize your home. Outdoor living upgrades, including a courtyard with a water feature, are among the most popular additions.

Because twin homes were so well received in Breakwater, Schell Brothers sold-out community near downtown Lewes, the builder is introducing this style of residence to Coastal Club. Buyers appreciate the low maintenance features and first-floor living.

Coastal Club(Photo: Schell Brothers)

All of Schell Brothers designs include Schellter Advanced Building Science, smart technology that leads to an eco-friendly, energy-efficient home that is kind to your health and to your budget. Every Coastal Club home has natural gas heat.

Act now to receive $20,000 off your new home with an additional $5,000 toward closing costs.

Close to the coast

Coastal Club is in an ideal location that is minutes from the unique shops and award-winning restaurants in downtown Lewes and downtown Rehoboth and Cape Henlopen State Park. The community is in the Cape Henlopen School District.

The location and the abundance of amenities appeal to those whove vacationed at the Delaware beach for decades. Whether they stay in the community or head to the beach, every day is a holiday in their new home.

THE COMMUNITY PRICE: Homes start from the $300s, after special incentives ADDRESS: 31611 Exeter Way, Lewes, DE 19958 PHONE: (302) 228-2719 HOURS: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. WEBSITE: schellatcoastalclub.com

Visit Coastal Club on April 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., to tour The Mayberry, the newest model home in Coastal Club.

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Toast of the Coast - The News Journal

These popular outdoor living spaces offer a wide variety of choices for design and materials.

By Daniel Westbrook

Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties

Q: Im looking to install a deck in the coming months. What do I need to know beforehand?

A: Over my 30-some-odd-year career, Ive had the opportunity to build a lot of decks, from extremely custom to quite simple. Decks can include railings, stairs, covers, trellises, lighting, privacy and different levels. They can be square or radius, with many different uses. They provide a footprint of expanded living space and entry access, and are used for cooking, entertaining, lounging and experiencing the outdoors at home.

Its no wonder that these outdoor spaces offer such a wide variety of choices for design and materials; so much so, in fact, that it can be difficult to know what might be best for your needs or wants.

Here are some of the main things to consider when deciding what type of deck space might work best for you.

Identify where the deck is going to be and why. For instance, is it going to be used for barbecuing, where you will need immediate access to the kitchen, or do you want to expand space off the bedroom to create an area for downtime? Is it down off the first floor, or up off the yard tying into a second story? Are you interested in having it covered to extend the season, or perhaps carry a hot tub where extra engineering and privacy might be important?

The key here is thinking it through so when its time to call a deck builder, youll be able to communicate clearly what kind of usage you want, and where its going to be built. Sometimes, it might be necessary to call a designer or architect to help you through that process.

When it comes to building a deck off the second floor as opposed to the first floor, there are a few more things to consider.

Because the deck is high, the understructure can typically be seen, so it should be built to be visually pleasing. There is often usable exterior space below, too, so consider how this view will look and feel and if you want to keep things dry underneath. If so, maybe a waterproof design is best.

Another thing to consider when building a second-story deck is if access to the yard is desired. If so, the footprint of a stair structure does have an impact on the yard space. Stairs should be located where access to the yard from above is easy, but still out of the way from traffic flow in the yard below. Plus, the structure should be visually pleasing and not feel like a barrier.

Once usage, location and access are identified, its time to think about your decks design. Design has three components: architecture, materials and engineering. All three work together to result in a solidly built deck that has the desired final look and feel.

Maybe an unobstructed view is important, so a glass railing may be best, which affects architecture and materials. A hot tub is heavy and affects structural engineering and space design. Privacy affects architecture, materials and maybe engineering by way of tie-in posts for structural strength, or with trellises additions or lattice work.

Also in the mix to consider is maintenance over time. For instance, wood will require more maintenance than composite materials. In considering materials, there are many types and choices within types, so do your due diligence.

After all of that, I have two final recommendations: 1) Go through the process of getting a permit, and 2) stop by a lumber company that has a variety of material samples and knowledgeable individuals to help you learn.

Daniel Westbrook is the founder and owner of Westbrook Restorations and a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, and HomeWork is the groups weekly column. If you have a home improvement, remodeling or residential homebuilding question youd like answered by one of the MBAs more than 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

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HomeWork: Key things to consider before building a deck - Seattle Times

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